Primary-battery cell.



J. H. GUGLER & G. W. COLLES.

PRIMARY BATTERY CELL. APPLICATION FILED JULY22, 1910.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

1 V n u l g l llllElJt hlilAElhllENT QFFICE.

JULIUS G-UGLEB AND GEORGE W. COLLES, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; SAIDCOLLES ASSIGNOR TO SAID GUGLER.

PRIMARY-BATTERY CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1 913.

Application filed July 22, 1910. Serial No. 573,184.

To all whom it may concern lle it known that we, Jones H. Gunmen and(banana "W. Census, of Milwaukee, Wis cousin, have invented. aPrimaryBattery (loll, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to primary electric batteries and our object isto produce an improved form of cell for commercial use which will give avery high electromotive force, a low internal resistance, extremeconstancy of action, and low cost of maintenance; and further whichshall not have serious objections such as giving oil of noxions orcorrosive gases or the continued corrosion of the anode on open circuit.

Chlorate of potash has been heretofore used or tried as a dcpolarizerfor battery cells; but as heretofore used it has been practically atotal failure. We have found that the reason for this lies in its verylow solubility and in the density of its solution. Unlike otherdepolarizers, it does not unifori'nly dilluse itself and come intoaction whenplaced all in one spot or upon the bottom of the cell, but,as its aqueous solution contains but a small portion of the cl'iloratc,that qui'intity soon used up and depolarimrtion promptly ceases. -i\nextra supply, if merely placed upon the bottom of the cell and left totake care of itself, will saturate the liquid with such extremeslown'css that it, of no practical benefit. Un-

less thcrcfdre, some mechanical means for keep ng the solution.constantly saturated be devised, potassium chlorate cannot be usedcommercially. \Ve have found that this may be accomplished by takingadvantage of the density of the solution so as to produce an automaticcirculation, provided the potassium chlorate is properly disposed in thecell. To this end according to our in vcntion the undissolved potassiumchlorate supply is supported at some pointabovc thc bottom of the cell,and preferably toward the top where the greatest effect is to beobtained, whereby as it slowly dissolves the solution sinks downwardly,and the lighter unsaturated portion of the liquid takes its place, thesolution bcingthus kept saturated by convection. There is, however,another danger to be avoided. While it is necessary for successfuloperation that the solution shall be quite thoroughly saturated withchlorate, on the other hand any excess or tendency to excess in thatportion of the electrolyte through which the current is passing resultsin a deposit of chlorate upon the surface of the cathode, and consequentgradual polarization. If this action is continued for a sullicientlength of time the negative element becomes insulated through a coatingof potassium chlorate, and this result also we are enabled to avoid byour construction. u

The nature of our invention is more cx actly specified in the followingdetailed description and specifically set forth in our claims.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated by way of examplethree embodiments of our invention, and hcreinl igure l is alongitudinal section through one form of cell, this being a two-liquid.form, constructed according to our invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection through a second form, this being a one-fluid form; and Fig. 3shows in longitudinal section a third form of cell, also a one-liquidcell.

The reference letters rotor each to the same part in each figure of thedrawings.

In Fig. 1 is shown a battcry-jar or container a, a cylindrical Zincanode I) immersed in an acid electrolyte c, a porous cup (Z containingthe depolarizing liquid (2, and a cylindrical carbon negative clement fhaving a suitable circuit'conncctor f]. The top of the cylinder f isconsiderably below the level of the liquid c, and a quantity offragmontul material It, such for example as sand, gravel, glass orbrick-fragments, cokebreezc or granulated carbon, fills the bore of thecarbon element f and extends some dista nce above the top thereof, beingpreferably of gradually increasing fineness from the bottoi'n upward asshown. We have used granulated carbon to good advantage for thispurpose, as it forms an increased surface for the action of thedepolarizcr. On the to of this bed of fruginental material is place theextra supply of potassium chlorate '27 immersed in the liquid (2, or atleast soaked thereby. it s important that the bed of fragmcntal materialbe of sullicient thickness above the carbon to prevent any undissolvedchlorate from getting between the carbon and porous cup (5, for thiswould immediately result in a notable increase in iii) ' f is made inthe form or a till produces disagreeable the internal resistance or thecell, the chlorate being in its solid form a good insiiilator. As sodisposed, the chlorate gradually dis solves in the liquid, and thesaturated liquidaround the undissolved chlorate gradually sinks to thebottom, filtering througl'i the lied of fragmental material, while the usatrv rated portion at the bottom rises an takes its place; in thismanner keeping 1e liquid in a constant state of saturation.

We found that, while the chlorate when placed at the bottom of the cell,has after a few minutes almost no etlect and the internal resistance todepolarization rapidly rises, as soon as the chlorate is raised andsupported at the top in the manner clesignated, the electromotive' forceto over two volts and remains constant at that pres sure.

ll n Fig. 2 we have shown another means of support for the chlorate,such be-- ing" adapted to support it at varying heights and thuscompensate for varying tempen atures or output. The elements 6 and c arethe same as in Fig. fl while to illustrate the application of theinvention. to a onecl is e reolaced 'hon by a perforated separator andclosed at the lower end. la the carbon f is placed a tray or carr may hemade of hard rubber or rial that is not acted on by the one]. having aperforated hottoni 1r ported by a vertical rod it, also. her or othernon-corrodible mat passes upward. through a hole in the crossloar 0 andhas a shittalole screw-collar p pro vided withaset-screw gthereon herehythe rod n may be raised and lowered 1' 7c correspondingly. G n lJOhlCllitray is placed preferably r and. on the h disposed the t chlorate s.

As the electronioti've force varies somewhat"according to ture of theatmosphere, this can sated by varying the hei and it can he correspondpensatc the varying cu." 1e cell so as to give a constant extern volta eFor example, when the cell is hci worked on a high current-output, thetray will he raised to the top oi the solution, and when it is worlringa low output or at quent intervals, the tray 7 y to near the bottom. T;i avci sary Waste of chlorate and *olution oil? chlorin which is notonly unused hut di sipates the energy oi? the depolariaer and odors andor ision in the apartment where the *cll is lot In the third form of ourinvention,

have shown in conjunction with the con tainer a and separator-plate aninternal 1 I A I. v anoue b and an external cylindrical cathode f.Around the external periphery of the cathode and near the top of theelectrolyte 0 is disposed a pertorated annular shelf t,

whichmay he supported there upon a shoulon top of which is placed theundissolved supply of potassium chlorate a2, and as before, said supplywill gradually pass into solution and the solution will be difltused bydownward convection throughout the electrolyte.

it will he seen that in each of our arrangements, hut more especially inFigs. 2 and 3, the construction'is such as to confine the saturatedsolution of chlorate principally or Wholly to that portion of theelectrolyte which is on the side opposite from the anode. The effect ofthisis during operation to prevent the chlorate from dissolving toorap-- idly and thus causing it to be precipitated through electrolyticaction upon the surface of the cathode in the manner hereinabove alludedto. its long as the cell is out of action, a saturated solution ofchlorate will, of course, in the space opposite the anode chamber, andby percolation through the porous cathode or cup this solution willreach the anode chamber; but as long as no current is running, there isno danger ot a deposit on the cathode. As soon as the cell is in action,the currentmay at first cause a on where this depositing action ceases,{W chlorate cannot reach the anode ice rapidly enough to permit thedeposit erhaps it is more theoretically g; action is that ofsub-saturation, to say, where the active electrolyte t short ofconiplete'saturation by the chlorate. its the current continuespolarizawill, of course, be prevented by the acne an of additionalchlorate solution by osmotic diffusion through the Wallscf the cathode.This is practically true of Fig. l as Well as of the other figures,because the narrowness of the space between the cathode f and porous cup6 is such as to aerrnit little or no appreciable quantity oi? saturatedsolution to reach the active por' tion of the elei'rtrolyte through thisspace.

We Wish it understood that our invention is not limited to the use ofall the above described features and constructions for some may omittedand others may be Varied or modified ill-VELI'IOUS ways, willreadilyoccur to those skilled in the art. For

ration is reduced immediately to the elevation in the solution.

example, sodium chlorate and possibly other chlorates may be substitutedfor potasssimn chlorate.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an electric battery cell having a depolarizerconsisting of a solution of a chlorate, an extra supply of undissolvedchlorate supported at a variable 2. In combination with an electricbattery cell having a depolarizer consisting of a solution oi. achlorate, a support above the bottom of said solution, a quantity offragmental material resting on said support, and a quantity ofundissolved chlorate resting on said tragmental material.

3. In combination with an electric battery cell having a depolarizingliquid containing a chlorate in solution, a carrier of sheetmaterialhaving a perforated bottom supported in said solution above the bottomthereof, a quantity of fragmental material resting on said carrier, anda quantity of undissolved chlorate resting on said tragmental material.

' 4. In combination With an electric battery cell having a depolarizingliquid containing a chlorate in solution, a carrier of sheet-materialhaving a pert't'irated bottom supported in said solution at or near thetop thereof, a quantity of. 'lragmental material resting on saidcarrier, and a quantity of undissolved chlorate resting on saidfragmental material.

in combination with an electric battery cell having a depolarizingsolution containing a chlorate in solution, a support in said solution,means for raising and lowering said support, and a quantity ofundissolved chlorate resting on said support.

(3. In combi nation with an electric battery cell having a depolarizingsolution containing a chlorate in solution, a support in said solution,means'for raising and lowering said support, a quantity of fragmentalmaterial on said support and a quantity of undissolved chlorate on saidfragmental Ina terial.

7. An electric battery cell comprising, in combination, a container, ananode, a tubular cathode, an electrolyte, and a depolarizing solutioncontaining a chlorate within said tubular cathode; a carrier disposed inthe tubular bore of said cathode, means for supporting said carrier atvarious elevations in the liquid, and an extra supply of undissolvcdchlorate supported on said carrier.

8. A two -compartment electric battery cell comprising an anodc, acathode, a liquid electrolyte in the mimpartmcnt containing the anode, aliquid depolarizing solution in the other compartment, a quantity ofsolid chlorate loosely supported in a position over a portion oi theliquid depolarizing solution, said solution having free access to thelower surface thereof and there being a snllicient distance between thesolid chlorate and the active surt'acc ot' the cathode to pre vent, theformation ol a non-conducting dc posit on the cathode.

9. An electric battery cell comprising in combination a container, asubstantially im' perforate porous cathode substantially dividing thespace in said container into two chambers, an anode and an electrolytein one of said chambers, a liquid chlorate solution in the otherchamber, and an extra supply of undissolvcd chlorate in said last namedchamber supported above the bottom of said chlorate solution whereby thesolid chlorate as it dissolves dill'uses downwardly by gravity so as toreplenish the supply of chlorate in said solution, said chloratereaching the active surl'ace ol' the cathode by a slow dill'usion actiontherethrough.

'lt). An electric battery cell comprising in combination a container, asubstantially impert'orate porous cathode substantially dividing thespace in said container into two chambers, an anode and an electrolytein one of said chambers, a liquid chlorate solu tion in the otherchamber, and an extra supply of undissolved chlorate in said last namedchamber siqiporlcd above the bottom of said chlorate solution wherebythe solid chlorate as it dissolves ditl'uscs downwardly by gravity so asto replenish the supply of chlorate in said solution, said chloratereach ing til active surface of the cathode by a slow ditl'usion actiontheretln'ougl'i, and

there being a snllicicnt distance between the solid chlorate and theactive surface of the cathode to prevent the formation of a nonconducting deposit on the cathode.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of twowitnesses.

.l lllilllS ll. (lllGlJlCR. GEORGE W. COLLEES.

\Vi tnesscs Amer: J. llnvuax, .las. U. Purl-insox.

